Cleburne Economic Development Foundation

About Cleburne Economic Development Foundation

The Cleburne Industrial
Development Foundation, Inc., a non-profit industrial development organization,
was founded on April 25, 1963 by a group of Cleburne business leaders. These
business leaders had a basic common goal – to bring jobs and capital investment
to Cleburne. Initial funding was donated by local banks, utilities, businesses
and individuals who shared the vision of the new organization. In 1991,
Cleburne Industrial Development Foundation changed its name to Cleburne
Economic Development Foundation, Inc. to better identify and align with its
mission and objectives for the future.

CEDF maintains an active
membership of approximately 250 members since first created. Membership is open to
the public for a nominal membership fee. It is governed by an elected Board of
Directors and Officers represented by a cross section of the community. Its
Executive Committee and Board of Directors is comprised of business and
industry leaders, city officials, county officials, Cleburne ISD’s Superintendent
and Chamber of Commerce President.

The CEDF mission statement is to
improve the quality of life in Cleburne. The goals and objectives are to
recruit new industry to the city, assist in expansions of existing business and
strive to retain existing industry while creating jobs and increasing the tax
base for the local taxing entities. These activities will increase wealth in
the community, improving quality of life directly by increasing disposable
incomes and indirectly by supporting the development of residential, commercial
and other sectors of the local economy.

The organization has been very
successful. According to the Central Appraisal District of Johnson County, the
tax rolls indicate the assessed values of industrial properties are near
approximately 38% of the overall assessed values for all in the City of
Cleburne. It is estimated that the 50 or more industries in Cleburne, now provide
about 5,000 jobs of the 13,647 or 37% of the total workforce in Cleburne. This
large amount of industrial tax base helps keep tax rates lower for the
residential, retail, commercial and institutional property owner in the city.